Compressing apparatus



Jan. 9, 1945. MARHNDELL 2,366,976

COMPRESSING APPARATUS FilQd Jan. 1, 1942 4 She'ets-Sheet l BY g ATM/Mi)Jan. 9, 1945. F. MARTINDELL COMPRES S ING- APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1, 19424 Sheets-Sheet 2 U if m mw m M W M A |.W 6 M N 3 f M 8 I i .F--- a a x ma 8 8 JUN. 11%.} 1 7/ fi m W- u 8 m 7 0 M w 1945. F. MARTINDELL2,366,976

' COMPRESSING APPARATUS v Filed Jan. 1, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wyn/m? I:MART/ND!!! ATM/WW) 1945. F. MARTINDELL I 2,366,976

COMPRES S ING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Psanaa Jan.a 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lessee-1e comanssme ArrAaA'rus FrankMartindell, Western Springs, 111., assignor to Western Electric Company,Incorporated,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 1 1942,Serial No. 425,373

9 Claims- (01. 18-18) lays or the like and, in such instances, it isneces- This invention relates to compressing apparatus, and moreparticularly to a sizing press for "illled coils.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive andeflicient apparatus for compressing articles, such as "fllled electricalcoils, to a predetermined size.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided asizing press for electrical coils, wherein cooperating upper and lowerheated plunger-s are passed through the center of a coil to size theaperture through the coil and also the length or the coil, the upperplunger being lowered by gravity and then locked in position as thelower plunger is forced upwardly by pneumatic means to completethesizing of the coil.

A complete understanding of the invention will be had from the followingdetailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. l is a. front sectional view of a coil sizingpress embodying the features of the invention, the section being takenon line I-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of F18. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l, withthe upper and lower plungers of the press shown in compressingpositions;

Fig. 4 is a plan view oi the press;

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional view taken on line ll5 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 6 is a diagram of an electrical controlled circuit for the press;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a "fllled coilof the type adapted to be sized by the press, and A r Fig. 8 is asimilar view of the coil after it has been sized by the press.

The so-called "filled" coil illustrated in Figs. 7

and 8 comprises a plurality of layers 5, 5 of wire which are separatedand insulated from each other by interleaving sheets 6, 6 of celluloseacetate or other suitable insulating material. It is common practice towind 9. series of such coils simultaneously on separated zones of awinding,

sary that the length oi the coil, as well as the diameter or its corereceiving aperture conform accurately to the length and diameter of thecore that is subsequently inserted into the coil. Also, before insertingthe core into the coil, it is sometimes advantageous, i! not necessary,to consolidate the end portions of the interleaving sheets of the coilinto a substantially solid, integral mass, as shown in Fig. 8.

The coil sizing press illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of thedrawings is capable of consolidating the end portions 01' theinterleaving sheets as it sizes the length and core receiving apertureof a coil. As shown in the drawings, the press comprises a supportingframe composed of two vertical posts lit-I0 which are rigidly anchoredat their lower ends to a hollow pedestal or base H. A horizontal tie barl2 rigidly interconnects the upper ends of the two vertical posts. and avertically adjustable crosshead I3 is clamped to the posts near theupper ends thereof.

Vertically slidable on the posts Ill is an upper platen I I, and securedto and projecting upwardly from this platen is a cylindrical post l5which is slidable in the crosshead l3. An enlarged head It on the upperend or the post is adapted to engage the bottom of a recess H in thecrosshead to limit the downward movement of the platen. The platen I4 isformed with two spaced rearwardly extending ears or projections Ill-l8(Fig. 5) and secured at their lower ends to these projections are a pairof vertical rods Ill-l9, the upper ends of which are rigidlyinter-connected by a horizontal cross bar 20. Intermediate its ends thecross bar 20 is provided with an aperture 2| for receiving the upper endof a piston rod 22. A pair of nuts 23 are adjustably threaded on theupper end of the piston rod to serve as a rest for the cross bar 20 sothat the upper platen assembly is adapted to be elevated by the pistonrod and is permitted to move downwardly by gravity when the piston rodis retracted. The

. lower end of the piston rod is connected to an air operated piston 25of a vertical air cylinder 26 mounted upon the base II. The piston isadapted to be reciprocated in the cylinder by compressed air which issupplied to the cylinder under the control of a valve 28 operated by asolenoid 29 (Fig. 2).

The piston has a second piston rod 3! connected thereto which extendsdownwardly through the lower head of the air cylinder and into thehollow base II, and is provided at its lower end with an enlarged heador nut 32. During the final portion of the downward movement of thepiston, the headed lower end of piston rod 3! Strikes one end of a leverand rocks the lever in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) against theopposing force of a coil spring 36. At its opposite end, the lever 35 isoperatively connected to a lower platen 38 through a pin and slotconnection 39, so that when the lever is rocked in a clockwisedirection, the lower platen is elevated from the position shown in Fig.2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. The lower platen is guided by a pairof liner pins 4040 (Fig. 1) which are slidable in the base I I.

Mechanism is provided for automatically locking the upper platen 14 tothe stationary crosshead l3 upon downward movement of the platen bygravity to its lowermost position. This mechanism comprises a horizontallock bolt 4| (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) which is rotatably journalled in thecrosshead adjacent vertical post l5 of the platen. To this lock boltthere is attached a pinion 43 which is geared to a rack bar 45. Aplunger 46 of an electrical solenoid 41 is pivotally connected at 48 toone end of the rack bar for moving the rack bar in one direction againstthe opposing force of a coil spring 49, as best shown in Fig. 5. Thelock bolt has a notch 50 intermediate its ends which, in the normalposition of the lock bolt, permits the post I5 to slide freely in thecrosshead. However, upon rotation of the lock bolt through 180 after theupper platen has moved downwardly to its lowermost position, as shown inFig. 3, the half round section 52 opposite the notch 50 of the lock boltenters a notch 53 in the post to lock the upper platen in its 3.)

lowermost position.

For rotating the lock bolt to its locking position, the rack bar isshifted by the solenoid 41, which is energized by the closing of aswitch 55 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6). This switch is normally held open by aplunger 56 which is slidable in the crosshead l3. One end of thisplunger bears against the operating button of the switch and theopposite end of the plunger is spring pressed against the vertical postl5 of the upper platen. The post has a notch 51 near its upper end(Figs. 1 and 2) into which the plunger recedes when the upper platenarrives at its lowermost position. As the plunger recedes into thisnotch it permits the switch 55 to close and thereby complete theenergizing circuit for the solenoid 41, whereupon the solenoid operatesthe rack bar to rotate the lock bolt into locking engagement with thepost I 5 of the upper platen. The upper platen is thus locked to thestationary crosshead l3.

As mentioned above, the crosshead I3 is clamped to the vertical guideposts I0 01' the press. Any suitable clamping means may be employed forthis purpose, and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, thisclamping means comprises a pair of clamping blocks 60 and 6! (Fig. 5)which are mounted on a horizontal shaft 62 that is provided at one endwith an operating knob 63. The shaft is threaded at its opposite end inthe" clamping block 6|], while clamping block Si is slidable on theunthreadecl portion of the shaft adjacent the operating knob. A coilspring 65 is interposed between the two clamping blocks so as to pressthem away from each other.

The clamping blocks are slidable in a horizontal bore 61 in thecrosshead l3. It will be noted that portions of the guide posts l0protrude into the bore 61 so that they are engageable by the clampingblocks, each of which has a notch 68 in the side thereof adjacent theguide posts. These notches are designed so that upon movement of the twoclamping blocks toward each other by turning knob 63 in one direction,the blocks are firmly clamped to the guide posts, whereby the crossheadI3 is also clamped to the posts. By turning the knob in the oppositedirection, the clamping blocks are released from the guide posts so thatthe crosshead may be raised or lowered to different positions on theguide posts.

For vertically adjusting the crosshead on the guide posts, avertical'adjusting screw it is provided which is rotatably journaledintermediate its ends in the stationary tie bar I2. An operating knob His provided on the upper end of the adjusting screw and the lower endthereof has a screw thread operating connection with the crosshead. Theadjusting screw is formed with a collar 12 intermediate its ends whichcooperates with the knob H to prevent endwise or vertical movement ofthe screw. Thus, by manually rotating the adjusting screw after theclamping blocks 60 and GI have been released, the crosshead may beraised or lowered on the guide posts it to vary the distance between theupper and lower platens of the press.

To the upper platen of the press there is attached an electricallyheated copper block l4 having a cartridge type electrical heatingelement 75 embedded therein. An upper coil sizing plunger 16 isremovably attached to the heated block 14 and is adapted to cooperatewith a lower coil sizing plunger 18 which is removably attached to anelectrically heated copper block 19 having a cartridge type electricalheating element embedded therein. The block 19 is provided withtrunnions 8 l8l, whereby it is pivotally mounted in spaced verticalplates 8383 secured to and projecting upwardly from the lower platen 38.Thus, when the press is open, the lower coil sizing plunger may betilted manually to the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2, tofacilitate the insertion and removal of the coils.

The upper and lower coil sizing plungers are heated by the electricallyheated blocks to which they are directly attached, andin order tomaintain the temperature of the plungers substantially constant, a bulbtype thermostat 85 (Figs. 2 and 3) is mounted in the lower plungermounting block and is arranged to control both the upper and the lowerplunger heating elements. As shown in the drawings, the plunger mountingblocks are encased in a suitable heat insulating material, such asasbestos board or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the upper coil sizingplunger comprises a base portion 81 and an integral spindle portion 89.The lower plunger likewise comprises a base portion 88 and an integralspindle portion 90. The spindle portions of the two plungers arecomplementary sections of a cylinder whose diameter corresponds to thediameter of the core receiving opening of the coil to be sized. It willbe noted that the spindle portions of the plungers are tapered tofacilitate their entrance into the core receiving opening of the coil.

Mounted on the front side of the base ll of the press are two pushbutton switches and 98, both of which are required to be depressed inorder to initiate a cycle of operation of the press. It will be notedthat these starting switches are positioned so as to require theoperator to use both hands to close both switches at the same time. Thisprevents the operator from acciassume dsntally placing his hands betweenthe plungers during the closing or the press.

As shown schematically in Fig. 6, the two starting switches 05 and 99control the air valve operating solenoids 20. Also shown schematicallyin Fig. 6 is a relay which is under the Joint control oi a normallyclosed switch 99 and the normally open switch 55, the latter switchbeing under the control of the upper platen of the press, as describedabove. Upon being energized, relay ll closes three normally openswitches I00, IOI and I03. The closing of switch I00 completes a holdingcircuit for the air valve operating solenoid 29; the closing or switchI0l completes an energizing circuit for the lock bolt operating solenoid41;. and the closing or switch I03 starts a timer motor I04. The timermotor drives a cam I which is adapted to open switch 99 after apredetermined time interval. The opening of switch 99 de-energizes relay98, whereupon the switches I00, IM and I03 open and thus cause thestopping of the timer motor and the deenergization of solenoids 29 and41.

In the operation 0! the press, a coil to be sized is placed on thespindle portion 90 of the lower plunger I9, which is then manuallytilted to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The operator thendepresses both starting switches 95 and 00, thus energizing the airvalve operating solenoid 29 which, in turn, operates air valve 28 toadmit compressed air into the upper end of air cylinder 26. The airpiston is thus caused to descend, carrying with it the upper and lowerpiston rods 22 and SI, respectively. As the upper piston rod 'descends'with the piston, the up- I per platen I4 together with the upper coilsizing plunger descends by gravity to its lowermost position, as shownin Fig. 3, whereupon the switch 55 automatically closes, as explainedabove. The

closing of switch 55 energizes relay 98 which, in

tum, closes switches I00, IM and I03. The closing of these switchescompletes a holding circuit for the air valve operating solenoid 29,completes the energizing circuit for lock bolt operating solenoid 41,and starts timer motor I04. Solenoid 41 rotates lock bolt 4I through180", thus locking the upper platen to the stationary crosshead I3.Alter the upper platen has been locked in position, the air pistoncontinues to descend to the bottom of the air cylinder, and during thisfinal portion of the downward movement of the air piston, the lowerpiston rod 3i rocks lever 35 in a clockwise direction, thus elevatingthe lower platen together with the lower coil sizing plunger to theposition shown in Fig. 3. The coil is thus sized to the required lengthby being compressed longitudinally between the base portions of theupper and lower plungers, and simultaneously therewith, the spindleportions of the plungerscooperate to size the core receiving opening ofthe coil.

After a predetermined time interval, during which the heat of theplungers serves to consolidate the ends of the interleaving sheets ofthe coil. the timer cam I05 (Fig. 6) opens switch 99, thus de-energizingrelay 98, whereupon switches I00, IM and I03 automatically open. Theopening of switch IOI deenergizes lock bolt operating solenoid 41,whereupon the lock bolt is spring re-' turned to its normal position.The opening of switch I00 de-energizes air valve operating solenoid 29,whereupon the air valve is operated to admit compressed air into thelower end of the .air cylinder and thus force the air piston upwardly.The upper platen is thus elevated by upper piston rod 22 to itsretracted position, while the lower platen is spring returned to itsretracted position. As the upper platen rises, switch is opened byplunger 56. Meanwhile, the timer motor having been de-energized by theopening of switch I03, the timer cam I05 is returned to its startingposition, thus completing an operating cycle of the press. The operatorthen tilts the lower spindle forwardly to the position indicated inbroken lines in Fig. 2, after which the sized coil is removed from thelower spindle and the latter is then tilted backwardly by the operatorto the position indicated in full lines i Fig. 2.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments there- 01- herein illustrated and described,except in so far as is defined by the appended claims.

' ating upper and lower plungers for compressing a coil therebetween tosize the length'of the coil, said upper plunger being gravity lowered toa coil sizing position, means for locking said upper plunger in saidposition, and means for thereafter elevating the lower plunger tocomplete the sizing of the coil. 7

2. A coil sizing press comprising a reciprocatory upper plunger adaptedto be lowered by gravity to a coil sizing position, means renderedeflective automatically upon movement 01 said plunger to said positionfor locking said plunger in said position, a reciprocatory lower plungeradapted to be elevated to a coil sizing position, pneumatic meansmovable in one direction to first permit the lowering of the upperplunger to its coil sizing position and then elevate the lower plungerto its coil sizing position, a valve for controlling said pneumaticmeans, and a timer for controlling said valve.

3. A compressing apparatus, comprising vertically reciprocable upper andlower platens, a ver- Ill) tically reciprocable piston for supportingthe upper platen so that said platen is adapted to move downwardly bygravity to its compressing position upon movement of said piston inadownward direction, means for locking said upper-- platen in itscompressing position, and means actuated by said piston upon furthermovement thereof in said direction for elevating the lower platen to itscompressing position.

4. A compressing apparatus, comprising a fixed supporting frame, areciprocatory platen having an extension slidable in said frame, a latchreceiving notch in said extension, a rotary latch in said frame havinga. portion receivable in said notch for locking said platen in itscompressing position, a reciprocatory rack bar for rotating said latch,and means under the control of the platen for actuating said rack bar.

5. A coil sizing press, comprising a supporting frame, a vertical guidepost secured to and extending upwardly from said frame, a cross headadjustably secured to the upper end of said post, a reciprocatory platenslidable on said post and having a cylindrical extension slidable insaid cross head, a rotary latch bar in said cross head for cooperatingwith said extension for locking said platen in its compressing position,and means under the control of said platen for rotating said upperplunger for movement by gravity to its compressing position, means underthe control 01' said upper plunger for locking said plunger in saidposition, a piston rod extending downwardly from said piston forelevating the lower plunger to its compressing positiomand a lost motiondevice between said piston rod and said lower plunger, whereby saidupper plunger is caused to drop to its compressing position before saidlower plunger is elevated to its compressing position.

7. In a compressing apparatus, a reciprocatory means mounted toreciprocate vertically, an upper vertically reciprocable platen member,means attached to the upper platen member and extending over thereciprocatory means for positively moving the platen member upwardly,said platen member and means being constructed and arranged to followthe reciprocatory means and move downwardly by gravity, means forretaining the upper platen member in its lower position, a lower platenmember movable upwardly to cooperate with the upper platen member incompressing an article, and means connected to the lower platen memberand extending beneath the reciprocatory means for engagement andmovement thereby to move the lower platen member upwardly when saidreciprocatory means moves downwardly.

8. In a compressing apparatus, a reciprocatory means, a firstreciprocable platen member, means for interconnecting the platen memberand the reciprocatory means during movement of the reciprocatory meansin one direction for moving said platen member in said one direction,means for locking the first platen member in a predetermined position, asecond platen member movable toward the first platen member to cooperatetherewith in compressing an article, and means actuated by saidreciprocatory means in moving in the reverse direction for moving thesecond platen member toward the first platen member.

9. In a compressing apparatus, a reciprocatory operating means, a firstvertically reciprocable platen member, means driven by the reciprocatory means during its movement in one directio for moving the firstplaten member upwardly an for permitting it to move downwardly bygravity: upon movement of the reciprocatory means in the reversedirection, means operable under control of said first platen member forholding it in a predetermined position after its movement apredetermined distance downwardly, a second platen member, and meansactuated by said re ciprocatory means after the first platen member hasmoved to said predetermined position for moving the second platen membertoward the first platen member to compress an article,

